Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



Feb. 23, 1960 LQRENZ 2,925,852

ARTICLE OF REFUSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Nov. 5. 19543 Sheets-Sheet 1 T5 ii 46 I 1 64 12 :4 10 2a 2s 55 e2 50 no 126 13INVENTOR.

ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY- Feb. 23, 1960 LORENZ 2,925,852

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Nov. 5, 19543 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3-

\ are 382 574 372 310 5 4 538 326 550 INVENTOR.

ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY.

Feb. 23, 1960 A LORENZ 2,925,852

ARTICLE OF R EPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed NOV. 5,1954 3 Sheets-$heet 3 o I 48 o o 452 42G INVENTOR. ANTON LORENZATTORNEY.

United States Patent ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF APERSON Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fia.

Application November 5, 1954, Serial No. 466,993

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to articles of furnitureand more particularly to articles of repose for supporting the body of aperson wherein a movable back-rest, seat and legrest may be brought froma sitting position into a reclined position and vice versa.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of repose of abovedescribed type wherein the movements of the movable members from oneposition into another one may be obtained with ease.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the construction ofarticles of repose as now customarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining armchair according tothe invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a recliningarmchair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall beingbroken away,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a recliningarmchair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall beingbroken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of areclining armchair according tothe invention, a portion of a side wallbeing broken away,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a further embodirnent of areclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side wallbeing broken away, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of still a further embodiment of areclining armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side wallbeing broken away.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 generally indicates a support having sidewalls 12 and 14 connected with each other in a suitable manner.

A back-rest 16 is swingably mounted on the support 10 at 18. Theback-rest 16 has a downward extension 20 rigid therewith.

A seat 22 is swingably mounted on the support 10 at 18 in coaxialalignment with the pivotal connection of the back-rest 16 with thesupport 10.

There is a first pair of links 24, 26 pivotally connected with eachother at 28 and there is a second pair of links 30, 32 pivotallyconnected with each other at 34. Said two pairs of links 24, 26 and 32are pivotally connected with each other at 36 and 38 so as to form amechanism ments of the back-rest 16 about its pivot 18 on the support10. p

The movements of the seat 22 are coordinated with Patented Feb. 23, 1960the movements of the lazy tongs 24, 26, 30, 32 and thus with themovements of the back-rest 16 by means of a link 48 pivoted at 50 to theseat'22 and pivoted at 28 to the link 40 of the lazy tongs 24, 26, 30,32 in coaxial alignment with the pivot between the links 24 and 26 ofsaid lazy tongs.

A leg-rest 52 is swingably mounted on one front arm 54 of the lazy tongs24, 26, 30, 32 at 56. Furthermore, said leg-rest 52 is pivoted at 58 toone end of a link 60, the other end of which is pivoted at 62 to theother front arm 64 of the lazy tongs 24, 26, 30, 32.

When a person resting on the chair leans the weight of his body againstthe back-rest 16 for swinging same from its upright position shown infull lines into a reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, theseat 22 is swung about its pivot 18 into the reclined position shown indash and dot lines and the front arms 54, 64

of the lazy tongs 24, 26, 30, 32 are propelled forwardly and upwardlyinto the position shown in dash and dot lines. At the same time the legrest 52 is swung about its pivot 56 on the front arm 54 of the lazytongs 24, 26, 30, 32 by means of the link 60 into the position shown indash and dot lines.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement of theback-rest 116, the seat 122, the lazy tongs 124, 126, 130, 132, theleg-rest 152 and the controlling link 160 and their connections witheach other and with the support respectively are substantially the sameas that of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

However according to Fig. 2 the link 132 of the lazy tongs 124, 126,130, 132, pivoted to the link 124 of said lazy tongs at 136, has anupward extension 149 rigid therewith and pivoted to the seat 122 at 150.Said extension 149 controls the movements of the seat 122 about itspivot 118 on the support 110.

Thus, a swinging movement of the backrest 116 about its pivot 118 intothe reclined position shown in dash and dot lines causes alsocoordinated movements of the seat 122 and the leg-rest 152 into theposition shown in dash and dot lines.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, again the arrangement ofthe back-rest 216, the seat 222, the lazy tongs 224, 226, 230, 232, theleg-rest 252 and the controlling link 260 and their connections witheach other and with the support 210 respectively are substantially thesame as that shown in Fig. 1.

However according to Fig. 3, the link 247 controlling the seat 222 ispivoted to the seat 222 at 250 and to the front arm 254 of the lazytongs 224, 226, 230, 232 at 266.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is shown infull lines and the reclined position of said movable members is shown indash and dot lines.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the back-rest 316 and seat322 are rigid with each other so as to form a unit 368 swingably mountedon the support The lazy tongs are formed by the links 324, 326, 330, 332pivotally jointed with each other at 328, 334, 336, 338. One rear arm340 of said lazy tongs 324, 326, 330, 332 is swingably mounted on thesupport 310 at 342. The other rear arm 344 of said lazy tongs 324, 326,330, 332 is pivoted at 372 to an arm 374 swingably mounted on thesupport 310 at 376. One end of a link 378 is pivoted to an intermediatepoint of the arm 374 at 380. The other end of said link 378 is pivotedat 382 to a downward extension 384 rigid with the unit 368.

The leg-rest 352 is swingably mounted on one front arm 354 of the lazytongs 324, 326, 330, 332 at 356. Furthermore said leg-rest 352 ispivoted at 358 to one end of a link 360, the other end of which ispivoted at 362 to the other front arm 364 of the lazy tongs 324, 326,330, 332.

When the unit 368 is swung about its pivot 370 from the sitting positionshown in full lines into the reclined position shown in dash and dotlines, the leg-rest 352 controlled by the mechanis-m-of the lazy tongs324, 326, 330, 332 is propelled forwardly and swung about its pivot 356into the position shown indash and dot lines.

According to the embodiment shown .in Fig. 5', the downward extension480' of the seat-back-rest .unit 4568 is swingably mounted on thesupport 410 at 471.

The arrangement of the lazy tongs 424, 426, 430, 432, the leg-rest 452and the controlling link 460 and their connections with each other andwith the support 410 respectively is substantially thesameas thatshownin Fig. 4.

However the rear arm 444 of :the lazy tongs 424, 426, 430, 432 ispivoted at 472 to one arm 486 of a double-armed'lever 485 swingablymounted on the support 410 vat47'7'. The other arm 488 of saiddoublearmed lever 485 is pivoted at 481 to oneend of a link 478, theother end of which is pivoted at 482 to the downward extension 480.

Upon a movement of the unit 468 from the sitting position shown in fulllines into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, theleg-rest 452 is brought into the position shown in dash and dot lines bymeans of the mechanism described above.

According to Fig. 6, the back-rest-seat unit 568 is swingably mounted onthe support 510 at 570.

The arrangement of the lazy tons 524,526, 530, 532, the leg-rest 552 andthe controlling link 56.0 and their connections with each other and withthe support 510 respectively are substantially the same as that. shownin Fig. 5.

However the rear arm 544 of the lazy tongs 524,526, 530, 532 is pivotedat 572 to one arm 586 of abell-crank lever 587 swingably mounted on thesupport 510 at 577. The other arm 588 of said bell-crank lever 587 is inslidable and disengageable engagement with the unit 568.

Thus, upon a swinging movement of the unit 568 about the pivot 570 intothe reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the leg-rest 552 isautomatically brought into the position shown in dash and dot lines bymeans of the mechanism described above. Owing to the disengageableengagement between the arm 588 of the bellcrank lever 587 and the unit568, it is however; possible to bring the leg-rest 552 from thepositionshown in full lines into any desired other position withoutmoving the back-rest-seat unit 568. Preferably locking mechanisms (notshown) are arranged for holdingthe unit 568 in a desired position duringan independent movement of the leg-rest 252 and for holding the leg-rest552 in any desired position relative to the unit 568.

In all of the embodiments shown in the drawings means may bearranged'for limiting the sitting position and the extreme reclinedposition of the back-rest and seat or the back-rest-seat unitrespectively.

Furthermore, in all of the embodiments shown in the drawings, lockingmeans may be arranged for holding the movable members of the chair inany desired position.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it isunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration andthat various omissions or forwardly of said seat, said control linkagecomprising a first and second link crossing each other and pivotallyconnected at their crossing point, a third and fourth link crossing eachother and pivotally connected at their crossing point, the second linkbeing connected to the third link and the first link being connected tothe fourth link to form a lazy tong linkage, the free end of the firstlink being pivotally connected to the support and the changes in shape,proportion and arrangement of parts.

as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those hereinshown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an adjustable reclining chair comprising bodysupporting meansincluding a seat and a back-rest rockably mounted on a support formovement between an upright sitting position and a rearwardly-tiltedreclining position, and a leg-rest, acontrol linkage for moving saidleg-rest frorn ,a;retrac te d position beneath the seat to an extendedposition substantially at the ,lev el-;of and free end of the secondlinkbeing operatively connected to the body supporting means, the freeend of the fourth link being pivotally connected to said leg-rest, and aconnecting link pivotally connected at one end to the free end of thethird link and at the other end to said legrest.

2. In an adjustable reclining chair comprising bodysupporting meansincluding a seat and a back-rest rockably mounted on a support formovement between an uprightsitting-position and a rearwardly-tiltedreclining position, and a leg-rest, a control linkage for moving saidleg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extendedposition substantially at the level of and forwardly of said seat, saidcontrol linkage comprising a firstand second link crossing each otherand pivotally connected at their crossing point, a third and fourth linkcrossing each other and pivotally connected at their crossing point, thesecond link being connected to the third link and the first link beingconnected tothe fourth link to form a lazy tong linkage, the free end ofthe first link being pivotally connected to the support, the back-resthaving a depending extension, the free end of the second link beingoperatively connected to said backrest extension, the free end of thefourth link being pivotally connected to said leg-rest, and a connectinglinkpivotally connected at one end to the free end of the third link andat the other end to said leg-rest, the free end of said second linkbeing movable upwardly and forwardly by said back-rest extension towardthe point of connection between the first link and said suppc rt whensaid back-rest is moved to its rearwardlytilted position whereby toexpand saidlazy tong linkage and raise said leg-rest to its extendedposition.

3. In an adjustable reclining chair comprising bodysupporting meansincluding a seat and a back-rest rockatbly mounted on a support forindependent movement between an upright sitting position and arearwardlytilted reclining position, and a leg-rest, acontrol linkagefor moving said leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat toan extended position substantially at the level of and forwardly of saidseat, said control linkage comprising a first and second link crossingeach other and pivotally connected at their crossing point, a third andfourth link crossing each other and pivotally connected at theircrossing point, the second link being connected to the third link andthe first link being connected to the fourth link tofonn a lazy tonglinkage, the free end of the first link being pivotally connected to thesupport, the back-rest having a rigid depending extension, the free endof the second link being operatively connected to said back-restextension, the free end of the fourth link being pivotally connected tosaid leg-rest, and a connecting link pivotally connected at one end tothe free end of the third link and at the other end to said leg-rest,the free end of said second link being movable upwardly and forwardly bysaid back-rest extension toward the point of connection between thefirst link .and said support when said back-rest is moved to itsrearwardly-tilted position whereby to expand said lazy tong linkage andraise said leg-rest to its extended position, and means coupling theforward endof said seat with said control linkage for raising said seatin response to rearward tilting movement of said back-rest.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting structureand including a seat and a backrest mounted on said support for tiltingmovement, a legrest, a leg-rest control linkage carrying said leg-restand adapted to guide said leg-rest in a selected path between aretracted position beneath the seat and an extended position forwardlyof the seat, and a constrained linkage for actuating said leg-restcontrol linkage in response to tilting movement of said body-supportingstructure, said constrained linkage including an arm and a first linkpivotally mounted at spaced points on the support, a second linkpivotally connected at spaced points to said arm and first link, and theportion of the support between the pivotal mounts of the arm and firstlink on the support as the fixed link of the constrained linkage, saidarm being operatively coupled to the body-supporting structure formovement of the constrained linkage in response to tilting movement ofthe body-supporting structure, said leg-rest control linkage includingan extension of said first link, an extension of said second link, athird link pivotally connected to the end of said second link, a fourthlink pivotally connected to the end of said first link, said third andfourth links crossing each other and being pivotally connected at theircrossing-over points, the free end of the fourth link being connected tosaid leg-rest, and a further link connecting the free end of the thirdlink to a point on the leg-rest spaced from the pivotal connection ofthe fourth link thereto, the first, second, third and fourth linksforming a closed quadrilateral linkage bounded by the pivotalconnections of said four links to each other.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting structureincluding a seat and a back-rest mounted on said support for tiltingmovement, a legrest, a leg-rest control linkage carrying said leg-restand adapted to guide said leg-rest in a selected path between aretracted position beneath the seat and an extended position forwardlyof the seat, and a constrained linkage for actuating said leg-restcontrol linkage in response to tilting movement of said body-supportingstructure, said constrained linkage comprising as movable links an armand a first link pivotally mounted at spaced points on the support anddepending therefrom and a second link pivotally connected at spacedpoints to said arm and first link, said constrained linkage alsoincluding as a stationary link that portion of the support between thepivotal mounts of the arm and first link on the support, said arm beingopera tively coupled to the body-supporting structure for movement ofthe constrained linkage in response to tilting movement of thebody-supporting structure, said leg-rest control linkage including alower extension of said first link, a forward extension of said secondlink, a fourth link pivotally connected to the free end of said firstlink, a third link pivotally connected to the free end of said secondlink, said third and fourth links crossing each other and beingpivotally connected at their crossing-over points, the free end of saidfourth link being pivotally connected to said leg-rest, and a furtherlink connecting the free end of the third link to a point on theleg-rest spaced from the pivotal connection of the third link thereto,the first, second and third and fourth links forming a closedquadrilateral linkage bounded by the pivotal connections of said fourlinks to each other, the first and second links serving as connectionsbetween the constrained linkage and the quadrilateral control linkagewhereby the constrained linkage actuates the quadrilateral linkage inresponse to tilting movement of the bodysupporting structure.

6. A recliningchair comprising a support, a body-supporting structureincluding a seat and a back-rest pivotally mounted on said support forindependent tilting movement, a leg-rest, a leg-rest control linkagecarrying said leg-rest and adapted to guide said leg-rest in a selectedpath between a retracted position beneath the seat and an extendedposition forwardly of the seat, and a constrained linkage for actuatingsaid leg-rest control linkage in response to tilting movement of saidbody-supporting structure, said back-rest having an extension dependingfrom its pivotal mount on the support, said constrained linkageincluding as movable links said backrest extension, a first linkpivotally mounted at a point on the support spaced from the pivotalmount of the back-rest, and a second link pivotally connected at spacedpoints to said back-rest extension and said first link, said constrainedlinkage also including as a stationary link that portion of the supportbetween the pivotal mounts of the back-rest extension and first link,said depending backrest extension being movable forwardly when thebackrest is tilted rearwardly for forward movement of the constrainedlinkage, movable links in response to tilting movement of the back-rest,said leg-rest control linkage including an extension of said first link,an extension of said second link, a third link pivotally connected tothe end of said second link, a fourth link pivotally connected to theend of said first link, said third and fourth links.

crossing each other and being pivotally connected at their crossing-overpoints, the free end of said fourth link being connected to saidleg-rest, and a further link connecting the free end of the third linkto a point on the leg-rest spaced from the pivotal connection of thethird link thereto, the first, second and third and fourth links forminga closed quadrilateral linkage bounded by the pivotal connections ofsaid four links to each other, the leg-rest being supported and guidedsolely by said control linkage.

7. Areclining chair according to claim 6 in which a seat control membercarried by said quadrilateral control linkage is pivotally connected tothe lower portion of said seat, said seat control member beingpositioned to apply an upward thrust on said seat when said controllinkage is actuated, whereby said seat is tilted through the constrainedlinkage, the quadrilateral linkage and the seat control member inresponse to tilting movement of the back-rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,789,090 Wawrunek Ian. 13, 1931 2,672,919 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 19542,693,845 Hofiman Nov. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 683,042 Great BritainNov. 19, 1952

